Conclusion
The sprayed polyurethane foam industry is continually evolving and growing, as its members share the responsibility to ensure industry best practices, safety, and the superb performance of the product. The best way to ensure all proper procedures, safety measures, material and equipment considerations, and best practices are followed is to use an experienced SPF contractor. As with all construction trades, a quality contractor will be financially stable, work with trained crews, and possess a positive reputation among customers and suppliers.

Additionally, professional certifications have become a critical designation for all involved in the installation of SPF. Canada has a well-developed, code-referenced installer licensing and certification system, managed by the Canadian Urethane Foam Contractors Association (CUFCA). All manufacturers of closed-cell SPF systems in Canada have CCMC listings of their products against the CAN/ULC S705.1 material standards that require third party involvement of Certification Organizations (COs) accredited to ISO 17024, Conformity Assessment: General Requirements for Bodies Operating Certification of Persons.

For those with operations that extend beyond Canada, the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) offers an international Professional Certification Program (PCP). This initiative gives all installers, field examiners, contractor companies, supplier companies, and supplier representatives the opportunity to prove their knowledge and adherence to best practices.

Rick Duncan, PhD, PE, is the technical director of the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA), an organization representing contractors, material and equipment manufacturers, distributors, and industry consultants. Prior to joining SPFA in 2008, Duncan held the positions of senior marketing manager for Honeywell’s SPF business and global program director for CertainTeed/Saint-Gobain. He holds a doctorate in engineering science and mechanics from Pennsylvania State University. He can be reached at rickduncan@sprayfoam.org.

Andrew Cole is the executive director of the Canadian Urethane Foam Contractors Association (CUFCA), the only not-for-profit SPF trade association in the country. CUFCA provides third-party certification and licensing of contractors and installers to the Canadian marketplace. Andrew can be contacted via e-mail at acole@cufca.ca.